Mr. Brace, one of the South Wales miner's' leaders, began
his speech by saying that the demand for 2e. a day had boon given undue importance. Yet he defended the minis for refusing to refer this " trifling incident " to a tribunal, first because
they resented the conduct of the Government in regard to the Coal Commission, and secondly because the decision of a tribunal on wages would not *unease output. Mr. Brace hinted that the "datum line" of ?output proposed by the Government was too high. Some -of the miners and some of the coal-owners were not doing their best. Mr. Brace suggested that many miners were fearful of " over-production," as if there could be-too much, coal in Europe just:now. He hinted that after a week or two the Miners' Federation might be forced to with- draw the -enginemen, who kept -the pits from -being -flooded, because the strikers would resent their -mph:cement. Speaking for himself, Mr.. Brace suggested that the Government should concede the " infinitesimal " '2s. ..a day and set up national end district committees of coal-owners and miners to secure a larger output, a national wages board to devise a new method of calculating wages,. -and a, joint oommittee coal-owners, miners and Board of Trade officials to apportion 4be " surplus " profits of the industry. Mr. Beare thought that the -increase of 28. a day " should be •reviewed in the light of the financial results obtained " at the end of 'the year.
